Guida Defends Title & French Win In XFO

ISLAND LAKE, Ill — Clay Guida used his wrestling to get position and finished challenger John Strawn with a side choke to successfully defend his XFO lightweight championship Saturday (Aug. 27) at XFO 7 outdoors at Sideouts.
Guida (16-2) won for the 14th straight time, while Strawn fell to 28-6.
Meanwhile, former champion Bart Palaszewski scored a quick 48-second knockout victory over Josh Koon, who filled in when scheduled opponent Brandon Bledsoe failed to show up at the event. Palaszewski is a win away from another shot at the title, which he lost by decision to Guida at XFO 6.
Clay French, an assistant wrestling coach at Eastern Illinois University, improved his record to 4-0 with a first-round rear choke win over previously unbeaten Josh Aroacho. French, also a lightweight, is also becoming a top contender for the XFO title.
Five-time UFC veteran LaVerne Clark won for the fourth straight time, finishing Jake Jetter with an arm-lock at 1:53 of the opening round.
In other pro bouts, Ron Fields bested Terry Davinney by arm-bar; Matt Hamill stopped Robert Hitte with strikes; and Aaron Tregear choked out Vito Woods in the second round of an action-packed bout.